One of country music's most successful duos over the past decade has amicably parted ways with Sony Music Nashville's Columbia Records label.  The duo's first release was the raucous "Hillbilly Shoes" and rode the success of that song and "Lonely & Gone" to a score their first platinum album for Tattoo's & Scars in 2001.  "She Couldn't Change Me" became the duo's first #1 hit (on R&R, #2 on Billboard) and drove their sophomore release Carrying On to Gold status in 2002.  Montgomery Gentry began a streak where their singles hit Top 10 with My Town and after that Platinum album's 3 Top 5 singles ("My Town," "Speed," "Hell Yeah") and then You Do Your Own Thing featured two Billboard #1 hits ("Something To Be Proud Of" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me") and the Top 5 hit "Gone".  While the albums title track broke their Top 5 streak, it did manage a Top 22 slot.  This album reached platinum status as well. 

In 2005 the duo released their first Greatest Hits project: Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005 and the album eventually reached Gold status but it would be the final time the duo would reach the mark as the following two albums failed to get near the mark.  The hit from this album was "She Don't Tell Me To."  Some People Change came next and the duo's hits with radio from this album include "Some People Change," the chart-topping "Lucky Man" and #3 hit "What Do You Think About That."  The Duo's final full-length studio release was Back When I Knew It All and it features the chart-topping #1 title track, another #1 in "Roll With Me" and the Top 5 "One In Every Crowd." 

While the duo has struggled with "Long Line of Losers," and follow-up singles in getting them to the Top 20 or higher, the move from Sony Music Nashville is a bit surprising given their relitively high profile.  The were set to release Life Beside a Gravel Road:Hits and More in October but that may or may not happen now.  If it does, it would likely tie in well with Something To Be Proud Of: Best of 1995-2005 and give the duo a nice pair of recordings to chronicle two different 'eras' at Sony Music Nashville. 

What do you think? are you surprised that the duo has parted ways with their only label home of their career?